CP3 Rising Stars: Backcourt in Control

Six 2030 guards who showed different ways to influence the game   When I evaluate young guards, I'm not just looking at who can score. I want to see who controls possessions who can change pace, create an advantage, get teammates involved, defend, make a play when the first option isn't there and still stay composed when the competition gets better.   That was one of the positives of CP3 Rising Stars. With an invitation-only group of 2029 and 2030 prospects, there were plenty of opportunities to see guards operate against other high-level players. The camp's selection process itself emphasizes performance, long-term upside and intangible traits, which makes the live evaluation especially important.    These six stood out to me for different reasons.    Jackson Boyd gives you the type of guard profile that starts with control.   What I like about evaluating a young lead guard is watching what happens when the defense takes away the first option. Can he stay patient? Can he get to a second action? Can he create something without rushing?   That's where Boyd caught my attention.   The current post-CP3 coverage around the camp also points toward his ability to operate as a poised lead guard, using his pace, handle, vision and scoring ability to control possessions.    Boog's Take: Boyd's value isn't just having the ball in his hands. It's what he can do with the possession once the defense starts adjusting to him.   What I'm watching next   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Decision-making against pressure</li>   <li>Creating for others</li>   <li>Maintaining pace</li>   <li>Consistency as a scorer</li> </ul>     JJ is a player I've already had the chance to watch in other settings, so CP3 wasn't about discovering him. It was another opportunity to see how his offensive game translates around other talented players.   The confidence with the ball has always stood out. He's comfortable creating off the bounce and getting himself into scoring opportunities rather than waiting for somebody else to make the play.   That national recognition isn't accidental either. JJ currently sits among the highly regarded players in the 2030 class, including a top-10 national ranking from Prep Hoops.   Boog's Take: JJ has the confidence you want from a young creator. Now it's about what happens after he gets that first advantage. Can he consistently make the right read, finish through length and impact the game defensively? Those are the next things I'll be watching as his game continues to develop.     JJ is a player I've already had the chance to watch in other settings, so CP3 wasn't about discovering him. It was another opportunity to see how his offensive game translates when he's surrounded by other talented players.   The confidence with the ball has always stood out. He's comfortable creating off the bounce and getting himself into scoring opportunities rather than waiting for somebody else to make the play.   The national recognition isn't accidental either. JJ is already considered one of the highly regarded players in the 2030 class, including a top-10 national ranking from Prep Hoops.   Boog's Take: JJ has the confidence you want from a young creator. Now it's about what happens after he gets that first advantage. Can he consistently make the right read, finish through length and impact the game defensively? Those are the things I'll be watching as his game continues to develop.     Bryce might have been one of the clearest competitors in this group.   I had two separate notes on him during Day 2:   High motor. Tight handle. Great defender.   Then later:   Quick-strike ability. Likes to draw contact. Doesn't shy away from attacking the body of bigger defenders.   That tells you exactly what type of guard you're watching.   He's willing to defend. He's willing to attack. And when he sees an opening, he doesn't seem afraid of the contact that comes with it. That combination gives him multiple ways to impact a possession, even when the offense isn't going through him.   Boog's Take: Bryce doesn't need a perfect offensive game to affect a game. The motor, defense and willingness to attack give him multiple ways to impact possessions. That's valuable for a young guard. Now I want to see how that pressure translates when he's consistently going against bigger, stronger guards.     Tyce rounds out the group because this isn't meant to be a ranking of the six biggest names in the backcourt.   It's about different ways guards can control a game.   For Tyce, I'm watching the continued development of his perimeter game and decision-making. He's a player who can become more impactful as those individual skills continue turning into consistent possession-to-possession production.   That's the thing with evaluating 2030 players.   I'm not just asking:   “How good is he today?”   I'm asking:   “What does he look like after another year of development?”   Boog's Take   Tyce is one of those names I'm going to keep tracking because the next stage of his development is going to tell us a lot about what his eventual role can be.     Giovoni brings another offensive element to the group.   My Day 2 note on him was simple:   Tight handle. Can catch-and-shoot or shoot off the dribble.   That's the type of versatility that makes a defender think before the possession even starts.   Go underneath and he can shoot it. Close out aggressively and he has the handle to attack. That ability to score in different ways gives him options depending on how the defense chooses to play him.   He's also been receiving attention from evaluators around the CP3 weekend, so there's legitimate outside interest in what he showed.   Boog's Take: I like guards who don't need one specific situation to be effective. Giovoni can hurt you off the catch or create something off the bounce. The next step is turning those scoring options into consistent reads and finding ways to impact the game on the defensive end.

Six 2030 guards who showed different ways to influence the game